My
cat is 3 years old and when he doesn't get attention or wants
somethings (like to go outside) he'll scratch the door frames or my big
cabinet. how can i make him stop without removing his claws and getting
rid of him. i know seeing to his needs his one of the ways which i do
but it just doesn't seem to help much. suggestions?
Answer
Kara:
First:
PLEASE do not declaw your kitty. Declawing leads to arthritis and host
of other issues. Removing a cat's claws would be equivalent to chopping
2/3 of your fingers off. Right now a lot of states are in the process of
outlawing this procedure, as the health complications that arise from
it border neglect.
I have to say that I cannot understand why people get cats if they can't stand them clawing at furniture. This is a natural instinct to them, and not something that can be trained out of them. It keeps their nails healthy too, so why would you want to stop them? However, the good news is that there are alternatives for your kitty. The best thing to do is get a scratching post. They range from $3 to $25 and you can get them at any pet store and usually at wal-mart as well. If he doesn't stop getting at the furniture after you purchase a scratching post, then I would suggest getting furniture protectors. Most cats scratch consistently ate one or two areas in the house. You can go online and buy protectors that resemble a scratching post, and connect them to the problem area in the house.
Again, please do not declaw your cat. I know it can be frustrating, but that is part of cat ownership, and as his parent you owe it to him to find an alternative solution that will make you both happy, and won't end in him being maimed.
I have to say that I cannot understand why people get cats if they can't stand them clawing at furniture. This is a natural instinct to them, and not something that can be trained out of them. It keeps their nails healthy too, so why would you want to stop them? However, the good news is that there are alternatives for your kitty. The best thing to do is get a scratching post. They range from $3 to $25 and you can get them at any pet store and usually at wal-mart as well. If he doesn't stop getting at the furniture after you purchase a scratching post, then I would suggest getting furniture protectors. Most cats scratch consistently ate one or two areas in the house. You can go online and buy protectors that resemble a scratching post, and connect them to the problem area in the house.
Again, please do not declaw your cat. I know it can be frustrating, but that is part of cat ownership, and as his parent you owe it to him to find an alternative solution that will make you both happy, and won't end in him being maimed.
Rebecca:
Hi! Declawing a cat is not a bad thing. If they are young it will most
likely have no effect on them at all. If they are older my only concern
is mental health or a change in personality. So for your kitty, I
would recommend buying nail covers at any pet store and put them over
your cats claws. I do this for my cat. Also buy a scratcher and spray a
catnip spray on it, this way he would rather claw the scratch
board/tower than the furniture. If all else fails, find a vet you trust
and ask them about declawing. Most experienced vets can do this
without any negative mental/physical effects.
Kitty:
Firstly
please do not de-claw your cat! It is very painful and it is the
equivalent of cutting the tips of a humans fingers off. It's cruel and
unnecessary. In my country it is illegal to de-claw a cat and I hope it
becomes illegal everywhere. If you want to own a cat, claws are just
part of the package. Also please get rid of him, there are so many
homeless cats out there, please don't make another one.
To deter your cat from scratching furniture and door frames you can -
1) Purchase a scratching post and when you see you kitty scratching furniture, take him to the scratching post instead.
2) Keep you cats claws trimmed so they will inflict less damage to your furniture.
3) Spray lemon juice on the places where your cat scratches. Cats hate the smell of citrus fruits so it will deter him from going to those areas and scratching them.
4) you can buy things called claw caps, which are placed over your cats claws. They make your cats claws not sharp and so don't make scratch marks.
To deter your cat from scratching furniture and door frames you can -
1) Purchase a scratching post and when you see you kitty scratching furniture, take him to the scratching post instead.
2) Keep you cats claws trimmed so they will inflict less damage to your furniture.
3) Spray lemon juice on the places where your cat scratches. Cats hate the smell of citrus fruits so it will deter him from going to those areas and scratching them.
4) you can buy things called claw caps, which are placed over your cats claws. They make your cats claws not sharp and so don't make scratch marks.
Paula:
Get
your cat a cat tree or at least something he is allowed to scratch.
Cats need to use their claws. My cat has a cat tree and hasn't scratched
my furniture since he was a kitten. All I did was tell him no when I
caught him scratching what he shouldn't and then put him on his cat tree
to show him what he was allowed to scratch. I also bought a PetZoom
sonic pet trainer which helped a lot.
Mike:
Firstly please do not declaw your cat.It is very painful and it is the
equivalent of cutting the tips of a humans fingers off. It's cruel and
unnecessary.Get your cat a cat tree or at least something he is allowed
to scratch. Cats need to use their claws. They cover his claws so when
he does claw on things, he doesn't damage them. You could also try
putting up a scratching post .
John M:
Trim his claws so he does less damage and try placing a scratching post
there instead. My cat does the same thing but he scratches the carpet
to get attention. I put down a small piece of carpet and he scratches
that instead.
